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“We are boundless…” We are all boundless, aren’t we? This quote was carried throughout the book, and a theme we can all incorporate into our daily lives more often. Haven’t you felt that on our best days, we are untethered, unlimited, and unstoppable? This review was a breeze to write, with so much strong content, emotion and character. I took care to share the best of it, without running the risk of incorporating any real spoilers!

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester was an incredible read full of love and loss, centered on the powerful role that strong women played in WWII events and outcomes. These extraordinary women that are so frequently overlooked in history, are brought to light here, spectacularly.

Historical fiction is my favorite genre and favorite books to review because not only do I get a story, but I get insights into the humanity, life, events, and settings that typically don’t show up in conventional abridged history books.

“We’ll teach them to swim and to fly and to know that the world has no real limits except the ones we make. And we are boundless.”

The story of Skye and Kat, and the other female pilots during WWII is simply riveting. Yes, women flew supply, troop, combat aircraft and even bombers in WWII’s theaters of war! The struggle these remarkable women went through and overcame to serve their country and the allies during the war, were made more difficult, only for being women. The evolution of women to become bombers faced opposition at every stage. From unfit conditions, the men didn’t have to endure, to nude physicals, which the men also didn’t have to endure, is incredible. We all knew that women in history were seen as being less capable than men, but there were uncomprehensible levels of interrogation women went through to be able to hold jobs or positions that typically were reserved for men.

“All the awful quotes from magazines and newspapers about the women pilots are real, as is the first press call, and the fact that the women flew open-cockpit planes to Scotland all through that first bitter winter.” – From the Author’s note.

The progression of the women from trainer aircraft to fighters to bombers and the opposition mounted against them at each stage is incredible to learn about. Imagine wanting to serve and help win a battle against a force like the Nazis, only to be faced with resistance and opposition from your own. Imagine wanting so badly to help your country, to perform a job you KNOW you are capable of, only to be told because you’re a woman, you can’t. These heroes battled through and were victorious in a war against discrimination, and the axis powers simultaneously.

“I’ve realized I don’t have to keep the parts of my life so separate and nor do I have to apologize when one spills over into the other.”
The women of this time carried themselves so bravely, and also carried onward with so many ghosts. I often wonder how I would have handled living during this time, and responding to the challenges these women rose to meet. Would I have been able to move on into peacetime? Would the ghosts of war time have haunted me eternally?

Finishing this book was bitter-sweet. Letting go of these characters was no easy feat, but I am taking with me deep insights and inspiration, provided by these women that didn’t only fly…they soared.

Christian Dior had a sister? And she was at Ravensbrück?

A fun fact that was uncovered in the book was something that seems to still be in the works of discovery; That is that Catherine Dior (sister of the famous fashion designer and perfume curator Christian Dior’s) spent time in the French resistance and also was imprisoned in Ravensbrück, one of the most horrific camps that performed gruesome tests and awful offenses on its women.

“Then she touched the photograph of Catherine and said, voice quiet, “Shouldn’t Catherine be more famous than her brother for her bravery? We remember dresses more than we do a woman who almost gave her life for her country.””

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

“Why do you think women like Catherine Dior have been forgotten by history? Is it due to their gender, their reticence to speak about their wartime experiences, the nature of the savagery they endured, or other factors? What can we do to make sure the heroines of today aren’t similarly forgotten in the future?” – From the Book Club Questions and one to truly ponder.

I didn’t want it to end!

Have you ever been reading a book and purposefully slowed down at the end? I did, being so engrossed and attached to the characters and the story that I didn’t want the connection with these incredible people to end.

I gave this book five stars! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

This is book #21 of 30 for 2020 for my Goodreads Challenge.

The Paris Secret by Natasha Lester

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

View all my reviews on Goodreads.

Thank you to Natasha Lester and Read Forever Pub for the gifted copy of the book. You can follow them on instagram @ReadForeverPub and @natashalesterauthor

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